Memphis May Fire (#1 of the Harleigh Lynn series)

Chapter Nine: Escalation

Harleigh realized with shock that she heard pounding. She shot to her feet and ripped the headphones out. Someone banged on her door. Harleigh prayed it wasn't Ari or Gene. She stood on tiptoe, looking through the peephole.

Harleigh opened the door and let Wilma in.

Her jaw's tighter than usual. She knows.

"I'm supposed to be giving you a good talking-to," Wilma said, glaring.

Harleigh realized Wilma's eyeshadow was light red and it didn't make her feel any better. She didn't say anything.

"What's up with you and Gene?"

"You know."

"So what? Tell me anyway."

"No thanks."

Wilma plopped herself down in a chair and crossed her arms.

"Oh honey, you have no idea how long I'm willing to stay here."

Harleigh sat down opposite her, angry.

"Neither do you."

She put her headphones back in and leaned back, closing her eyes. She could almost feel the stubbornness oozing from Wilma.

"Listen, what's your problem?" Wilma said after a moment.

"You wouldn't get it," Harleigh said, not moving, "You'd just put me in another box. I've heard what you said about me."

Harleigh heard her shift in her seat.

"Well?" she demanded when Wilma didn't say anything.

Harleigh found herself surprised at how confrontational she felt.

"Well, there's always a chance I could've been wrong. So you gonna tell me?" Wilma said after a moment.

"Heck no. Get out of my room. You said I don't take anything seriously? Let me prove you wrong. If you don't leave, I'm going to call the front desk and report harassment. Seriously. I've had it with you people and your little games," Harleigh snarled, still not opening her eyes.

Wilma let out a grunt of approval.

"You're gutsy when you get riled up. But I'm not leaving."

Harleigh sat up and started dialing, but raised voices interrupted her.

"What's that?" Wilma demanded, jumping up and moving to the door, "Is that next door? That's Gene's room."

She barreled out into the hallway with Harleigh in tow. Wilma pushed open Gene's door, leaving it cracked. Harleigh stood outside and listened, not daring to go in and face them.

"Ari, sit down!" Wilma bellowed, "I've had enough of you screaming at him for one night. For heaven's sake, your voice will be hoarse. No, don't argue. Sit. Markov, make Gene a cup of coffee. Gene, you sit down on that bed, and you keep your mouth shut until that entire cup is gone, and then you can explain yourself. Ari, I never told you that you could get up."

"Wilma—,"

"Don't you try that smile on me. Sit."

"Let him leave," Gene said.

"I told you to be quiet until that coffee is gone. Markov, what happened?"

"Hell," came the answer.

"Ari, for the last time, sit down."

"No, Wilma, I am not done with Gene."

"Harleigh—," Gene began.

"For heaven's sake, forget Harleigh. I'll deal with her later. I can't believe your actions, Harleigh or no Harleigh," Ari returned.

"Yeah so you mentioned," Gene fired back, "I've heard it all. You don't know how I feel."

"Oh really?"

"Ari, you aren't allowed to talk unless you're sitting," Wilma insisted.

"Fine. I can scream from a chair. You want to know how I feel? I'm practically sweating blood to keep this team together and working, and then people like you have to go and act asinine! If you'd set this entire building on fire it would've had a better effect. But no, you went to provoke Harleigh, and now I have an insatiable urge to strangle both of you!"

"Harleigh came after me! What's asinine? That doesn't sound like a good boy word."

"Ari!" Wilma screamed, "Markov help me hold him down!"

Harleigh heard a brief struggle and the sounds of people panting.

"Ari, what has gotten into you?" Markov asked after a moment.

"Markov, you can let him go now," Wilma said, breathing hard, "Let's all—,"

"Gene, I'm coming back in the morning. If your act isn't together, you are fired. Do I make myself clear?" Ari demanded.

Oh. I should probably resign before he has a chance to fire me, Harleigh thought.

She could picture Ari's angry face and she didn't want to deal with her confused emotions.

"Where are you going?" Wilma asked.

"To give Harleigh a piece of my mind."

Harleigh backed away from the door, anger flaring in her gut as he came out into the hallway. His face was tight and furious.

"Eavesdropping? I didn't think I could get angrier."

Harleigh had a strong urge to start cursing in his face, and an equally strong urge to blush and hide in her room.

"I don't want to hear it," she said as he opened his mouth, "If you want my side of the story, I took a video. You can watch that."

"So you videotaped it. Am I the only one who has any morals?"

"You want to know where you can put your morals?" Harleigh exploded, shocking herself.

He clenched his fists, but his phone rang, startling them. Wilma came into the hall.

"Ari, you are not going to stand here and yell. I will—,"

He shushed her and put the phone to his ear. There was a tense silence, and Harleigh felt her heart racing, pulsing through her skin. Ari's face changed, becoming calm again, and he frowned.

"On my way."

"What was that?" Wilma asked, watching him.

"We have to go. Now. They found a body."